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14

Torresian Kingfisher

(Todiramphus sordidus)
Alternate name(s): "Collared Kingfisher", "Mangrove Kingfisher",
"Sordid Kingfisher", "White-collared Kingfisher"

Size: 24-28 cm
Weight: 50-90 g (across all races)

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Torresian Kingfisher at Wikipedia .

Click here for classification information

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "sordidus"

ADULT

FEMALE

Frontal view rendering a direct comparison of a Torresian Kingfisher, front right, with a recently moulted - and thereby discoloured - Sacred Kingfisher, back left; the near-black head makes the Torresian Kingfisher a likely female (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Lateral view of a female Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Lateral view of a female Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Distant dorsal view of a female Torresian Kingfisher, (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, December 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal view of a Torresian Kingfisher; the very dark upperparts and cap, combined with residual vermiculation on the chest suggests that this may be an immature female (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Torresian Kingfisher; the vermiculation on the front indicates that this is a juvenile
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, May 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Torresian Kingfisher; note the barring on the neck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Race "colcloughi"

ADULT

MALE

Near-frontal view a Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Near-lateral view a Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral view a male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]

Lateral view a male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]

Near-dorsal view a male(?) Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Dorsal view a male(?) Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Dorsal view a male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female(?) Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, February 2014]

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Torresian Kingfisher launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, November 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view a juvenile male Torresian Kingfisher; note the indication of vermiculation on the breast and flanks and the solid matt-black cap (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Lateral view a juvenile Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Near-dorsal view a juvenile male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Dorsal view a juvenile male Torresian Kingfisher; note the tapered length of the tail feathers that are still growing
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Lateral view a juvenile female Torresian Kingfisher; note the indication of vermiculation on the breast and flanks and the solid greenish-grey cap (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Food, Diet

Torresian Kingfishers have a preference for mud crabs.

Lateral view of a male Torresian Kingfisher with its catch, a mud crab (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, February 2014]

Lateral view a wet-looking female Torresian Kingfisher with its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, March 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

colking_20140820.mp3 sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Contact call © MD
colking_20140820_6.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Contact call (with lead-up) © MD
colking_20140820_2.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Simultaneous contact calls © MD
colking_20140819.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Contact calls © MD
colking_20140820_4.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Contact calls (Q&A) © MD
colking_20140819_5.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Contact calls (Q&A) © MD
colking_20140820_5.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls © MD
colking_20140816_2.mp3 sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls (Q&A) © MD
colking_20140819_3.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls (Q&A) © MD
colking_20140819_2.mp3 sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Annoyed call(?) © MD
colking_20140820_3.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Various © MD
colking_20140819_4.m4a sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
Various © MD
colking_20140818.mp3 sordidus
(Darwin, NT)
? © MD
 
colking_20140526.mp3 colcloughi
(NE NSW)
Contact call © MD

More Torresian Kingfisher sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.